GAMES
RANKINGS
Lutheran South Academy is loaded again
STANDING ON BUSINESS: The VYPE preseason private school breakdown
1. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers
2. Second Baptist Eagles
3. Concordia Lutheran Crusaders
4. St. Pius X Panthers
5. Episcopal Knights
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Others to Watch:
(Alphabetical Order)
Bay Area Christian Broncos, Houston Christian Mustangs, St. John’s School Mavericks, St. Thomas Eagles, The Kinkaid School Falcons, The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
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1. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers (TAPPS DII)
Lutheran South completed the climb to the top of the mountain in 2025. The Pioneers finished as the TAPPS Division II State Champions after going 34-3-1 overall. Five starters return for 14th-year coach Aaron Schneider, who has 313 career wins at the helm of this program. University of Houston-commit Jaylen Walker (.349, 4 HR, 26 RBIs) returns to the mix along with Coastal Carolina-commit Marcus Cantu (.366, 3 HR, 12 2B, 23 RBIs, 58 R) and McClenan Community College-commit Wyatt Powell (11-1, 1.18 ERA, 83 Ks). Last season, Powell earned first-team, all-state honors and Cantu was second-team, all-state. Other key returners include Brycen Gilbert (Paris JC-commit; .270, 22 RBIs, 2 HR), Rich Scarborough (Angelina JC-commit), Tony Gonzalez (29 RBI, 5 2B, 2 HR), Will Simmons (1-1, 1.48 ERA, 19 Ks), David Corona and Landon Victorian. Keys to success in 2026 include being consistent on the mound, have productive at-bats and minimizing mistakes, according to Schneider.
2. Second Baptist Eagles (TAPPS DII)
Second Baptist School is always a program that needs to be factored as a favorite to make a run in the TAPPS Division II Playoffs. Last year, the Eagles reached the State Semifinals and finished 26-4 overall and 8-2 in district play. Rayner Noble is back in the dugout to lead the Eagles and has amassed 665 career coaching victories. First-team, all-district pick 1B/P Christian McCleary and second-team, all-district selections 3B/P Ford Allen, IF/P Will Newhouse and OF/P Sam Arrendell are all slated to return to the Eagles’ dugout in 2026. Also watch for OF Aiden Nick, who was an honorable mention, all-district pick a year ago.
3. Concordia Lutheran Crusaders (TAPPS DI)
Concordia Lutheran reached the Regional Round of the TAPPS Division I Playoffs in 2025 and finished with a 21-12-1 overall mark. Royce Kennedy enters his 12th year of leading the program (123-48-2) and returns four starters in 2026. Second-team, all-state selection Ethan RIvers will lead the pack. Rivers is verbally committed to RIce University. Other key returners include first-team, all-district pick Luke Douglas (Concordia Austin-commit), second-team, all-district picks Ronin McCraw (McLennan-commit) and Landon Martinez and Hugh Wilhelm. Also watch for Gio Cosma (Eastern University-commit), Nick Romano (Southwestern-commit) and Joseph Banasik (Oklahoma CIty University-commit). The key to success for Kennedy’s group in 2026 will be the ability to produce runs as they play with a “We are greater than me” mindset.
4. St. Pius X Panthers (TAPPS DI)
St. Pius X pieced together an impressive season in 2025 as the Panthers reached the TAPPS Division I State Semifinals. Mike Evans has amassed 340 career coaching victories. Honorable mention, all-stater Sean Marquez returns to the lineup for the Panthers. Other key returners include Jaiden Lee (P/IF), Carsan Evans (1B), Adrian Magallanes (P/3B/1B), Carson Smith (P/OF), Andrew Kirklin (OF) and Tristan Smaistrla (P). Watch for the Panthers as they try to make it to the final game of 2026.
5. Episcopal Knights (SPC 4A)
Episcopal once again was in the conversation of the best baseball teams in SPC 4A last season. The Knights finished 18-12 overall and as the SPC 4A Runner-Up. In the past 10 seasons, Episcopal has won four SPC Championships, the last coming in 2023. Matt Fox enters his 17th season leading the program and sits just 11 wins away from career coaching victory No. 500. Nine starters return, including All-SPC selection and reigning Team MVP Tommy Hetherington. University of New Orleans-commit and All-SPC selection Will Bozeman will anchor the mound for Episcopal as the southpaw will be called upon to produce big innings of work. Four-year starter and University of Georgia-commit Miles Young will hold down the infield at shortstop for the Knights. Other key returners include 1B/OF Bryce Bloom-Timmons (Harvard-commit), P/3B Marco Quintanilla, CF Reid Sasser (Sewanee-commit), University of New York-commit Mike Chin, P/OF Carlos Thachar, Brooks Allen and catcher Brady Jacob. After finishing as the SPC 4A Runner-Up last year, watch for the Knights to be hungry in 2026 to reclaim the top spot of the Southwest Preparatory Conference.
OTHERS TO WATCH
The Kinkaid School Falcons (SPC 4A)
Kinkaid rose to the top of the SPC last season. It was the Falcons first title since 2022 and third since 2019. Six starters return for 15th-year coach Steve Maas, including Washington and Lee-commit Carlton Walton and Sewannee-committ Jackson Setrum. Other key returners include All-SPC outfielder Thomas Smith, P Tripp Kneale, OF Matthew Guyton, P Austin Jones, 3B/C Tanner Nyveen, Catcher Jack Harper and OF/1B/P Hudson Zach. “A lot of unproven potential is coming up. We will use a very difficult tournament schedule to see where we are and the areas we need to focus to make a run in April,” Maas said.
...
St. Thomas Eagles (TAPPS DI)
St. Thomas is one of the storied private school baseball programs in the city. Last year, the Eagles went 23-14 overall and reached the Regionals Round of the TAPPS Division I playoffs. Adam Massiatte has 307 wins in his coaching career entering this season. Five starters return for Massiatte, including Sewanne-commit and first-team, all-district pick RHP Braden Comstock (6-3, 2.20 ERA, 58 IP). Comstock was also named second-team, all-state. Also returning is second-team, all-district selection RHP Patrick Daily (4-3, 2.00 ERA, 45 IP). At the plate, first-team, all-district OF Jay Marcantel (.330, 17 SB) and second-teamer OF/DH Jackson Ryals (.310, 18 RBIs) will lead the way. Also watch for Henry Beck who projects to have a strong junior year offensively and defensively for the Eagles.
The stars of 2025-26 St. Agnes Academy Softball
THE BREAKDOWN: VYPE's Private School Softball Prospectus; Episcopal, St. Agnes lead the Top-5
3. The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
4. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers
5. Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles
...
Others to Watch:
(Alphabetical Order)
Concordia Lutheran Crusaders, Cypress Christian Warriors, Houston Christian Mustangs, St. John’s School Mavericks, St. John XXIII Lions, St. Pius X Panthers
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1. Episcopal Knights (SPC 4A)
Dana Strange (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
The Knights remain in a class of their own within Texas private school softball.
That distinction was reinforced yet again in 2025, when Episcopal (22-3) edged St. John’s 3-2 last May. The victory not only secured the program’s eighth consecutive SPC title, but also marked the 10th championship for head coach Caitlyn Cain and company since 2014—and the 23rd overall.
Maintaining that level of consistency is never a given, yet it has come to feel almost routine for the group Episcopal brings back to the diamond.
Left-hander Jordan Bey enters her senior season looking to mirror last year’s All-SPC form before heading to Sacramento State. Fellow All-SPC selections Claire Johnson (Sr., C) and Hayleigh Hubbard (Jr., SS) anchor the middle of the defense alongside senior first baseman Addison Conner.
At the plate, Memphis commit Alexis Johnson (Jr., OF) looms as the lineup’s most dangerous presence, bringing an explosive element to Caitlyn Cain’s offense, with senior Elliot Loper adding further stability in the outfield.
2. St. Agnes Academy Tigers (TAPPS DI)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
A familiar face now guides perennial power St. Agnes, as four-year assistant Tyler Dobson was elevated to head coach last June. Well acquainted with the Tigers’ standard, Dobson takes over a group that finished 17-6-1 a season ago and advanced to the TAPPS Division I State Semifinals.
Though Antonian halted St. Agnes’ bid for back-to-back titles, a wealth of battle-tested returners remains in place—signaling that all systems are go, as Dobson begins her debut directing the program.
Harvard-bound senior Kyra Nguyen remains the team’s most dynamic chess piece, thriving in her utility position after earning first-team all-state honors a year ago. In the circle, junior left-hander Penelope England returns with an eye toward building even stronger chemistry with senior catcher Nisha Suneja, as both were first-team all-district selections in 2025.
Rounding out the group, second-team honorees Anna Morton (Jr. OF) and Kirsten Moon (So. RHP) are poised to embrace expanded roles as the season unfolds.
3. The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors (TAPPS DII)
Dana Strange (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
Fresh off one of the program’s most productive seasons to date, TWCA surged to a 21-7-1 record, a run that culminated with a Final Four appearance in the TAPPS Division II playoffs.
Replacing the production of stars such as pitcher Keira Crosby (Clemson) and infielder Alexis Osterhaus (Army) will be no small undertaking. Even so, third-year head coach Joshua Culp retains a lineup rich with proven talent, positioning the Warriors to avoid missing a beat this spring.
Reagan Rohrlich (Sr. SS/OF) returns to help propel the Warriors’ latest push toward a potential State run after earning first-team all-state honors a season ago. The Texas A&M signee is joined in the infield by senior Kate Rouswell, a second-team all-state selection who provides additional stability up the middle.
Taking over as the ace in the circle is junior RHP Marissa Clarke, a first-team all-district honoree last spring. Fellow district first-team selections Ashlyn Culp (Jr. C) and Alison Chandler (So. OF) further underscore the depth of an exceptionally balanced TWCA ballclub—one that appears well-positioned to make another return to the State Semifinals, if not more.
4. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers (TAPPS DII)
Dana Strange (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
The Pioneers turned in a strong 2025 campaign, hitting their stride down the stretch before rolling past Saint Mary’s Hall to reach the Regional Round of the TAPPS Division II playoffs. Their postseason surge was eventually halted by TWCA, but the late-season momentum illustrated Lutheran South’s upward trajectory.
Picking up where she left off last spring, senior Addison Smith (Wichita State signee) is set to anchor both the middle infield and the heart of the batting order for head coach Nicole Andrade, aiming to mirror the production that earned her first-team all-state recognition.
Sophomore Kendall Putnal returns to the circle after a standout debut season that earned her second-team all-state honors, joined by junior catcher Gia Bales. Surrounding them is an imposing lineup anchored by a wave of first-team all-district selections, including Jadyn Maldonado (Jr. IF/C), Ava Zamora (Jr. OF), Jill Whitehead (Jr. IF/OF), Emily Bankson (Jr. IF/OF), and Alexis English (So. OF).
5. Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles (TAPPS DII)
Dana Strange (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
FBCA experienced a slight detour from its usual standard a year ago, suffering a tough loss to Cypress Christian in a high-scoring postseason opener. That said, the Eagles have had ample time to regroup and coalesce under head coach Kelli Jacoby, fueling a renewed sense of optimism as the new season gets underway.
Second-team all-state pitcher Reese Heflin stands at the center of the resurgence, hoping to cap off her high school career in reputable fashion before ascending to East Texas Baptist University. Waiting in the wings behind Heflin is sophomore Evelyn Moore, a first-team all-district selection who led the team with a .431 batting average and 25 hits in her debut.
When she’s not on the mound, Moore will primarily patrol the infield. Fellow district first-teamer Ariel Yee (Jr. C) adds power to the lineup, posting a team-high 24 RBIs and five home runs, while junior shortstop Ella Romo, another first-team pick, hit for over .400. Complementing the group, second-team all-district honorees Bailey Baird (Sr. 3B) and Allie Guillot (Jr. OF) reinforce the continuity and depth that Fort Bend Christian will rely on as it looks to make a State-level breakthrough.
Others To Watch - Concordia Lutheran
Dana Strange (VYPE/Phlox Photography)